Pelikan Business History
with main focus on
fountain pens

Pelikan manufactory, Hannover on the Podbielskistraße

• 1838
  Formal year of foundation of the artist color and ink factory by the chemist Carl Hornemann.
  
  
• 1878
  Günther Wagner registered a Pelican (from his family emblem) as one of the first German trademarks.
  
  
• 1901
  Pelikan's most famous ink series 4001 was first presented this year.
  
  
• 1906
  Administration and production space moved to Hannover on the Podbielskistraße.
  
  
• 1929
  This was the year in which the legendary Pelikan fountain pen was born. Well known with the green marbled shaft und the pioneering differential piston mechanism.
  
  
• 1934
  The cheaper version of a fountain pen was released under the product description "Rappen". Also a mechanical pencil was released with the name "AUCH PELIKAN" to the production program.
  
  
• 1936
  The model IBIS fills the place of the model "Rappen".
  
  
• 1938
  This is the year of the 100 year anniversary of Pelikan. The logo would redesigned for the anniversary cataloque that it would remain for the next 60 years. Also a new fountain pen was released, the model 100N.
  
  
• 1950
  At this time Pelikan released a new fountain pen, the model 400. The shaft is no more green marbled, like the modell 100/100N, but now green striped. It is really synonym for Pelikan fountain pens at all.
  
  
• 1960
  A new school fountain pen was introduced into the marketplace, named "Pelikano". It was at the first time a cartridge pen. This pen became popular at a very short time to students and teachers.
  
  
• 1965
  Pelikan purchased the manufacturer Greif in Goslar. Greif had also procuded fountain pens from the 1930s until 1965.
  
  
• 1973
  The facilities on the Podbielskistraße could no longer be expanded. Therefore the production of writing instruments was moved to Peine/Vöhrum nearby Hannover.
  
  
• 1982
  Like the model 400 from the 1950s Pelikan released a new model the "Souverän" M400. Apart from the feed there is no different to the model who came at 1950. A new classic fountain pen had a renaissance.
  
  
• 1991
  Pelikan purchased the manufacturer Geha in Hannover. Geha had also procuded well known school fountain pens from the 1950s until 1991.
  
  
• 1993
  The first Limited Editon (based on the 800 series) is released under the name "Blue Ocean". It was made in a blue transparent coloring. A total of 5000 fountain pens were produced.
  
  
• 1996
  Pelikan released a new fountain pen named "Level", a fountain pen with a very big ink reservoire.
  
  
• 2008
  Pelikan is celebrating in this year the 170 year anniversary.